Red Pepper Quilts on Etsy

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

Google+ Followers

Translate

Follow by Email

Subscribe

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Postage Stamp Quilts are many and varied - with variation in layout and size of each square - and so is the way to approach making a Postage Stamp Quilt. I have chosen to make my Postage Stamp Quilt from fabric scraps and by sewing 16-patch strip pieced blocks with a random layout.

I started by tipping over my scrap bin and noticed that many of my fabric scraps were small/narrow strips (trust me, you don't want to see this mess!). And so it started:

Step 1 - Cutting Strips

Cut strips of fabric measuring 2 inches x 7 inches.

You'll need a total of 432 strips to make a Postage Stamp Quilt measuring 54 inches x 54 inches. However I rarely cut all fabric in advance for a project, and prefer to have short cutting sessions followed by sewing sessions.

Step 2 - Sewing Strips

Sew four strips together, pressing all seams to one side (press all seams in the same direction). This block now measures 6.5 inches x 7 inches. Press carefully without pulling the strip set out of shape.

Step 3 - Cross cutting the strip set

Cross-cut the strip set at 2 inch intervals. You will have some excess fabric left over which may you may need if your strip set is a little wonky. Make sure that you are cutting at a 90 degree angle to the sewing lines. If not, straighten up by trimming back.

Step 4

You'll need a total of 324 of these units :: four units for each 16 patch block. (Again, there's no need to make all of these units first ~ it does get a little tedious).

Step 5

Sew together four units into a 16 patch block. Each block now measures 6.5 inches x 6.5 inches.

This is where direction of seams allowances becomes important!

Arrows indicate the direction of the seam allowance.

The direction of the seam allowance is indicated by the arrows above; sewing and pressing ALL blocks the SAME way ensures that you will be able to easily match the seams when eventually sewing the blocks together into a quilt top.

Step 6

Press all final seam allowances in one direction. Be consistent in pressing seam allowances for all blocks. I am left handed and found it easier to press these final seam allowances toward the right.

The back of your block should look like this.
Make a total of 81 blocks.Step 7 - Quilt Layout

Arrange the 81 blocks in 9 rows each of 9 blocks. The arrows above refer to the direction of the final seam allowances of the individual blocks in Step 6. (For example, the final seams of all blocks in the first vertical column should be pressed up). By alternating the direction of the final seam allowance all of the other seam allowances will also "lock" together and will make matching of seams a piece o' cake.

Sew blocks together into (horizontal) rows. Press all seams in one direction; and in opposite direction for every second row.

Sew all 9 rows together into a quilt top! Press seam allowances (direction not important).

You're done! Quilt top measures 54.5 inches x 54.5 inches.

Any questions? Please feel free to ask by leaving a comment, and I will reply in the comments sections.

Rita it is just beautiful. But how many different scrap do you have to have to keep from one square of fabric being next to a square of the same fabric? Did you run into that problem? It seem like you have more scraps than me?!

Hi Michelle ~ That's a great question. I had A LOT of scraps and it seems that it doesn't matter how many scraps you have they gravitate towards each other. When I arranged my blocks I found I had to do quite a bit of re-arranging (whilst being careful to keep my seam allowances in the right direction) to ensure that no two same fabrics were alongside one another.

Now that I've finished the quilt I have noticed that numerous the same fabrics are closely grouped together despite my efforts. I don't think it's too important though, and doesn't affect the overall result.

Thanks for this lovely tutorial! For someone new to piecing like I am, your directions about such things as which way to press seam allowances is super helpful. Have been wondering which project to tackle next, and I think this is a great choice. Since I don't make quilts (gasp), I might use such blocks to make nesting baskets or maybe place mats. Thanks again for generously sharing your talents. Your blocks are gorgeous!

Perhaps you might want to add to your tutorial, that it is also important to sew the strips in alternating directions, once from top down and the next row from bottom up. That keeps it from getting lopsided. I hope, you understand what I mean, Rita, my English is not so good ;-) But by looking at your perfectly straight quilt I am sure, you did it that way.

Do you realise your scrap bin is more varied than my fabric stash lol I've made one postage stamp quilt (Around the world pattern) many moons ago and found seam matching a nightmare I can imagine that making up the blocks would help with that?

My grandmother had a postage stamp quilt that was set on point, and the edges were left zig-zaggy, thus looking like the perforated edges of a real postage stamp.

I tried making one myself (when I was in the 7th grade!!!). Rather than tackle binding something that challenging, I stitched around the edges and turned the quilt inside out. Not very neat, but I was so excited about finishing it!

I surely do wish I had that original quilt now, so I could look carefully at how it was finished. Any ideas?

Great tute! I think the method you use helps unify the quilt a little bit since there are 4-square strips that are repeated four times. That's (part of) the magic to this quilt! Thank you for sharing Rita.

Great tutorial however why have you blocked people from pinning your images? I don't use bookmarks anymore instead I use Pinterest to help me "bookmark" websites so that I can easily find them when I need them. This seems pointless to block people from pinning your website, why would you put up the tutorial?

As far as I know pinning from my blog is not blocked - and my images, including this tutorial is well represented on Pinterest. It doesn't seem that anyone else is having problems pinning from my blog.

I have blocked pinning from my Flickr Photostream, but you can pin right here from my blog; that way the link included in the pin is back to the relevant blog post and all the information is right there.

Had to try this... And in my excitement a messed up twice. 1. Choosing the same fabric when piecing the strips together a bit to often (I only made 5 strip blocks... call it a practice run for a scrappy pillow...) and 2. I did not pay attention to important part of Step 5... Naughty girl... So my pressed allowances ended up in the same direction at a couple of sides... Well, learned from it and next time I get into making a postage stamp project I will probably do better. Thanks for sharing. I had great fun.:D

I was thinking of making a postage stamp quilt using leftover 2 1/2 squares. Kind of like a leaders enders project that I'll make a block and then put it in a box until I have enough to sew together. Should I make them nine patch blocks? Will this system work? I've never made a quilt like this. Thanks! Also, should I make the nine patch in the same color way way, or just mix it up?

I started making one of these quilts a few months ago and I could not stop! So much FUN! Addictive. I now have THIRTEEN of them completed and ready for quilting. Thanks for sharing a great idea and helpful instructions. Now all I need is 13 grandchildren!

I love this quilt and want to attempt it as my first. I have been saving up my hubby's old work shirts to turn into a quilt for my daughter. I wanted to make it a queen or king size and was wondering if there was a formula used to determine how many strips to cut because I will be cutting first and wanted to make sure I have enough for the larger size. Also, are you sewing 1/4 or 1/2 inch seams? Any help would be appreciated!

Hi! I would really love to make this. I have left over jelly roll strips which are 2.5" wide. Would I have to change the length of the strips and the width of the block strips I cut? If so please help this extremely novic quilter out and let me know what you recommend I should make them.

I am in the middle of this at the moment. I don't think I have enough units but plan on putting a border on. Its easy but tedious. I feel virtuous for having finally cleared my scrap bag. I will just have to collect lots more!!!

This is a great quilt for the great grandkids...2 girls and another on the way. Look forward to making it. Thanks for fantastic tutorials. Love them all and your website. Kudos to you. Continued success in all you do. Blessings....Camille

Rita, this is beautiful and so inspiring. Did you use this same process for your Red, White and Blue postage stamp quilt? Would step 2 be a print fabric, white, print and white? Then have the same number of blocks with white, print, white then print?

So grateful for your guidance in this quilt instruction. I've been cutting my leftover and odds and ends fabric into 2 inch strips ... finally I know why:) I'm also left handed ... cutting fabric that is folded ALWAYS has a curve ... can't figure it out no matter how much pressure I put on rotary cutter ... so I cut everything I can in single cuts or I layer without folds ... doesn't stop me, I keep at it ... thanks again. Love your work!